Cross-brace structure



Oct. 22, 1929. K. c. GARDNER cnoss BRACE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 INVENTOR. firm/77"; C. Gare 72n- 9 29% I 4 v ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH G. GARDNER,-OF GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GREEN- VILEE STEEL CAR COMPANY, OF GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA GROSS-BRAGE STRUCTURE Application filed November 23, 1927. Serial No. 235,188.

This invention as indicated relates to a cross-brace particularly adapted for use as a strengthening member for railway cars and the like especially those of gondola or hopper type, although its use may be adapted for other structures of a wholly dissimilar nature as will be obvious. In a Patent No. 1,630,001 heretofore granted to applicant, the idea of using a cross-brace formed of sheet metal folded so as to provide a rounded upper edge and substantially fiat lower side members approaching each other has been set forth. In said patent the material from which the brace was made was preferably plain sheet metal and not aspecial section such as is used as the stock for the body portion of the device in the present invention.

It has been found that through the use of a structural section such as a channel-like member that a cross-brace may be fabricated which for certain special purposes will provide for a higher degree of strength for the total amount of metal used than where made of plates of even gauge. Through using standard commercial sections such as standard channel members, the cost of fabricating the several parts herein referred to may be greatly reduced. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following de scription set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several. of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one end portion of a cross-brace embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an end plate adapted to be integrally secured to the end of the cross-brace member shown in Fig. 1; 3 is a perspective view of a cross-brace member and end plate in terengaged with each other, said end plate being provided with an aperture of adequate size to receive the unmodified end of the cross-brace member; Fig. 4: is a view of a standard channel member in inverted position preliminary to being folded to produce cross-braces of the types shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View of a cross-brace formed of a channel member of the type illustrated in Fig. 4 through being folded downwardly to bring the end edges ofthe flanges in abutting position forming a flat base with flat parallel. sides of said member extending upwardly therefrom and being joined by a longitudinal fold of substantially semi-circular outline; Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, but showing the flanges of the channel member bent substantially in alinement with the adjacent side portions of the cross-brace; Fig. 7 illustrates a channel member similar to that of Fig. 4; but positioned with the flanges in upright vertical position, the channel member being folded in the course of fabricating into a cross-brace reversely to the manner of folding the channel member to produce the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a cross-brace formed by folding the mean ber shown in Fig. 7 to provide a body portion having a contour wherein the upper edge is rounded and of semi-circularoutline and the lower side portions approach each other adj acent the lower edges with the flange portions in substantially the same relation to the side portions as in the original channel member prior to bending; and Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a cross-brace formed of a channel member of the type shown in Fig. 7 bent downwardly at its ends and with the flanged portions thereof meeting along a central medianline and providing a lower edge of increased thickness.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the invention contemplates providing a crossbrace having a main body member 1 of suitable cross-section which is engaged at its ends with plates 2 of suitable gauge and preferably integrally united therewith by means of electric welding. The proportionate thickness of the main body member and the end plates is adjusted to the special requirements of each installation.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 1, a channel member 3 having flanges l of the type shown in Fig. 7 is bent downwardly or folded along a median line so to produce an upper portion 5 of substantially semi-circular outline with the adjacent side portions 6 of said member inclined to- Ward each other. When first bent, the channel member will assume the form shown in Fig. 8 which itself may be used as the final form of the cross member, but the bending operation preferably is continued until the flange portions 4 are pressed with their upper faces 7 in alinement with the sides 6. with their bases 8 in close contact with each other as is illustrated in Fig. 9. In place of using a standard channel member of the type shown in Fig. 7, a modified form of channel member may be produced wherein a single folding of the member will at once bring it to substantially the cross-sectional outline as shown in Fig. 9. WVhen so folded, the corn 'tral member of the brace may be secured to the end plates in any suitable manner. Thus theends thereof may be butt-welded to solid plates of suitable gauge or the end plates may be apertured to receive the ends of the central member which is then welded in position. In

the form shown in Fig. l acoping operation is applied to provide a lower edge ll of less longitudinal extent than the full length the body portion of the brace. As is shown in Fig. 1 the end plate in'such instances may be provided with an aperture 12 of an outline corresponding to the reduced end 13,.of the main body portion of the central member of the brace which may be engaged therein and secured thereto by a suitable welding operation such as a fillet formed at the inner meet ing line of the plate and the central member. Instead of using a coping operation at the end of the central member, it may be found desirable to have the aperture 14 through the end platelO conform in outline to the entire outline of the end 15 of the central member ,which will then be engaged therein in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and secured in position by a suitable welding operation. The welding preferably should be of such character as to produce a protective fillet 16 about the meeting line of a central member with the end plate so as to prevent the entrance of moisture and particles of foreign matter at that point which would tend to shorten the life of the structure.

"For certain uses, it may be found desirable togprovide a cross-brace having a rounded upper portion 21 and substantially flat hot- I tom 22 and side portions 23, the entire structure being of rectangular cross-section except for the rounded upper edge, as is illustrated in Fig. 5. The brace structure when formed with a central member of the crossection last described, will. be completed through the addition of end plates 24 either butt-welded directly to the ends of said member, orsuitably apertured to receive the ends of said central member and being held by a welding operation providing a fillet about the meeting line as in the brace structures heretofore described.

Where it is desired to utilize a channel member as the stock from which the central member of the brace is to be formed, thereby providing a reenforced lower edge, but which will include as well a cross-sectional structure substantially similar to that set forth in my Patent No. 1,630,001, a further pressing operation may be performed on a device f olded to the shape shown in Fig. 5, or such structure may be formed by single folding operation through the use of a special sheet of stock wherein the flanges of the channel member are originally fabricated substantially in alignment on one face. The folding operation will then result in a structure having substantially the cross-section shown in Fig. 6.

While it has been stated that standard structural shapes may be used as the stock from which the central brace member is formed, it is to be understood that for various purposes it may be found desirable to vary the shape or gauge of the stock employed and it is not intended in any Vay to limit the claims to the use of structural members having any particular outline. The use of channel members is merely pointed out as providing for an economical basis of manufacture. but it is obvious that plain sheet metal may be used and suitably folded or otherwise treated to provide a modified edge having a greater amount of metal adjacent thereto whereby the principles of the invention would be carried out by a structure corresponding substantially with that hereinabovc described although manufactured in a somewhat different manner.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means he employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In an article of the character described. the combination of a central member provided with end plates integral therewith, said central member having adjacent its lower edge a proportionately greater amount of metal than through its remaining portion.

2. A cross brace for railway cars and the like, formed of a structural member providing a greater amount of metal adjacent its respective edges by folding said structural member so as to bring said thickened edges in close proximity adjacent the lower edge of said structural member.

3. A cross brace for railway cars and the like, formed of a structural member providing a greater amount of metal adjacent its respective edges by folding said structural member so as to bring said thickened edges in close proximity adjacent the lower edge of said central brace member, said member being engaged with plates integrally secured to the ends thereof.

4. A cross brace for railway cars and the like, formed of a structural member provid ing a greater amount of metal adjacent its respective edges by folding said structural member so as to bring said thickened edges in close proximity adjacent the lower edge of said member, said central brace member being engaged with plates integrally secured to the ends thereof, said plates being suitably apertured to receive the respective ends of said member.

5. A cross brace for railway cars and the like, formed of a structural member providing a greater amount of metal adjacent its respective edges by folding said structural member so as to bring said thickened edges in close proximity adJacent the lower edge of said member, said central brace member being engaged with plates integrally secured to the ends thereof, said plates being suitably apertured to receive the respective ends of said member, and a fillet of welded metal uniting the ends of said member and end plates.

Signed by me,

this 12th day of November, 1927.

KENNETH C. GARDNER. 

